CHTH G105-C10; NT/OT 6ZP6—Papyrology and Textual Criticism McMaster Divinity College Winter 2019 (Term 2) Stanley E. Porter, PhD Tuesday 2:00–3:50 pm (appointments through my assistant at: [email protected]) Wendy J. Porter, PhD [email protected] Course Description This course is a study of the characteristics, uses, and function of papyrology and related manuscripts from antiquity to the invention of printing. Special attention is given to biblical manuscripts and insights gained for study of the biblical texts, including textual criticism, which forms an important component of the course. Course Objectives Knowing: By the end of the course, participants should know about: 1. How ancient documents and books were physically manufactured 2. Ancient handwriting conventions and special conventions used in biblical manuscripts 3. The major discoveries of ancient manuscripts 4. The major figures in papyrology and textual criticism 5. The extant materials for reconstructing the earliest forms of the biblical texts 6. Various principles of textual criticism and the discussions surrounding them Being: By the end of the course, participants should 1. Appreciate the value of knowing and being able to use ancient Greek manuscripts for study of the biblical text 2. Appreciate the challenges faced by anyone attempting to reconstruct the earliest form of the biblical text 3. Be sensitive to the range of issues and challenges faced by contemporary papyrological and text-critical studies Doing: By the end of the course, participants should be able to 1. Edit an early manuscript 2. Discuss the history and development of papyrology and textual criticism, and their importance 2. Discuss the characteristics and dating of any particular manuscript 3. Discuss the evidence for the originality of variant readings in the New Testament Course Prerequisites Two years of Greek language study or equivalent (or Hebrew language if interested in Old Testament textual criticism), admission to the MA or PhD program of McMaster Divinity College. Required Texts The two required texts should, if possible, be read before the beginning of the course, as a foundation for discussion. Parker, D. C. An Introduction to the New Testament Manuscripts and their Texts. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2008. Porter, S. E. How We Got the New Testament: Text, Transmission, Translation. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2013. Assigned Reading Bagnall, R. S. Reading Papyri, Writing Ancient History. London: Routledge, 1995. Bagnall, R. S., ed. The Oxford Handbook of Papyrology. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Deissmann, A. Light from the Ancient East, translated by L. R. M. Strachan. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1927. Kraus, T. J. Ad fontes: Original Manuscripts and their Significance for Studying Early Christianity. Selected Essays. TENTS 3. Leiden: Brill, 2007. Porter, S. E., and A. W. Pitts. Fundamentals of New Testament Textual Criticism. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2015. Turner, E. G. Greek Papyri: An Introduction. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1968. All required textbooks for this class are available from the College’s book service, READ On Bookstore, Room 145, McMaster Divinity College. Texts may be purchased on the first day of class. For advance purchase, you may contact READ On Bookstore, 5 International Blvd, Etobicoke, Ontario M9W 6H3: phone 416.620.2934; fax 416.622.2308; email [email protected]. Other book services may also carry the texts, but we encourage you to use READ On. Course Requirements 1. Participation: Participation in all sessions is required. Most class sessions will combine lecture and discussion, with some hands-on exercises involving manuscripts and related phenomena. Percentage: 0%—although failure to participate will detract from the final grade up to 10%. 2. Reading: Participants are to read the two textbooks (in advance) and the assigned reading, as well as 1,000 further pages from works listed in the bibliography (except for books that contain only plates of manuscripts). It is helpful if sections that pertain to the topic of each session can be read ahead of the pertinent class meeting. Percentage: 0%— although failure to complete all reading will detract from the final grade up to 10%. 3. Writing: a) Edit a manuscript to be distributed at the first session. This edition is to provide a diplomatic and reading text of the manuscript (these two terms will be discussed, but you need to learn what they are), and appropriate critical apparatuses for each. The edition is to include an introduction to and description of the manuscript, patterned after those found in standard editions, such as the P.Oxy. collection or Porter and Porter, New Testament Greek Papyri and Parchments. The student is not to use any previously published version of this text even if it can be found on-line or elsewhere (the student will be honor bound to affirm that no previously published version has been accessed in any form). This paper is due February 26. Percentage: 25%. b) Select a particular text-critical problem in the New Testament and produce a critical analysis of 2,500 words of the text-critical evidence, including attention to the manuscripts, their relationships, internal and external probabilities, and any other pertinent issues. Be sure to establish the significance of the variant and propose a resolution that accounts for the variants. These papers will be presented and discussed in class on March 19, with the final paper also due on March 19. Many of these papers by previous students have been published in various journals, so write with this possibility in mind. Papers are to be distributed four days in advance to all students (the Friday previous to presentation). Percentage: 25%. c) Produce a research paper of about 8,000 words in length (total, including notes and bibliography) on some issue surrounding early manuscripts or producing an edition of further manuscript(s). The topic is to be discussed and approved by the professors in advance of writing. Several of these papers have been published in respected journals, so consider the assignment in that light. Students will present their papers per the schedule below (either March 26 or April 2). For each presentation the student is required to distribute a minimum of a one page summary and any pertinent documents to be examined four days before the presentation (the Friday previous to presentation). Final revised paper due April 9. Percentage: 50%. Course Assessment The grade will be determined by the quality of class participation, which includes evidence of having done the reading, by the quality of class presentations, and by the quality of the written assignments. See percentages indicated above. A student must make a valid attempt at each component of the course in order to pass. Late assignments are penalized at 5% per day, including distribution of papers for discussion. The change of topic assignment once agreed results in an automatic penalty of 10% of the grade. Classroom Behaviour and Policies The following guidelines are presented to encourage all students to participate together in this course, and should be kept in mind at all times. 1. Please respect the opinions of others, even if you do not agree with them. Extend courtesy by not ridiculing others’ ideas, but feel free to respond to them logically and critically and in an orderly manner. 2. Students should be on time to class, or be prepared to offer an explanation after class to the professors. 3. Students are expected to stay for the entire class session, unless arranged in advance. 4. Students may eat or drink in class so long as they do not distract others or leave the remains of such activities behind for others to clean up (and bring enough for the professors as well!) 5. Students are not expected to be doing work on any other subject except that of this course according to the outline below and as appropriate. 6. Students are not to carry on other conversations in class, especially with those seated immediately adjacent to them. If something being said or done in class is not clear, please ask the professors at an appropriate time and in an appropriate way. 7. No cell phones may be used in any way, and no computers are to be used for anything but course business. Please do not test the seriousness of this policy regarding classroom behaviour. Students who fail to respect these guidelines will be dismissed from the class, with all of the consequences implied. Course Schedule The following course schedule attempts to capture the major elements of the course and its content. There is a logic to the presentation, so please gauge your reading accordingly. January 8: Introduction of Course Discussion of objectives of course Introduction to papyrology Introduction to textual criticism January 15: History of Papyrology History of papyrology Major figures in papyrology Basic terminology and concepts Recent developments in papyrology January 22: History of Textual Criticism Origins of textual criticism Major figures in textual criticism Major editions Recent developments in textual criticism January 29: Manuscripts and Their Physical Characteristics Papyrus, parchment, scrolls, codices and how they were made Ink and illumination Size, scoring, page and quire numbering Describing a manuscript February 5: Writing Conventions Handwriting and its evolution Punctuation, accents, spelling, and paragraphs Eusebian canons and Ammonian sections Testimonia and colophons Documentary versus literary manuscripts Dating of manuscripts February 12: Editing